Vértebras lumbosacras de transición: Reporte de un caso e implicancias clínicas

SUMMARY: A lumbosacral transitional vertebra is a rare congenital anomaly which occurs because of defect in the segmentation of the lumbosacral spine during development. During routine osteology classes for the medical students at the Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India, one of the sacra showed the fusion of the fifth lumbar vertebra with the sacrum. The specimen showed an incomplete fusion (sacralization) on the left side and the transverse process was of the large butterfly shape, while on the right it was about the usual size. Though this variation is well known, the details of this anomaly are rarely reported in the anatomical literature. Since there is a strong relationship between the lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and low back pain, this anomaly has gotten increased clinical interest. So this case was studied in detail with relevant review of literature and its surgical, radiological implications are discussed.